Texans cut off Herbert, Chargers at the pass

AFC WILD-CARD GAME

Joe Mixon of the Texans celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chargers in Saturday’s AFC wild-card playoff game in Houston. ALEX SLITZ — GETTY IMAGES

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By Kristie Rieken

The Associated Press

HOUSTON >> Derek Stingley says the Texans aim to force three turnovers a game.

On Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers, they surpassed that goal with the All-Pro cornerback grabbing two of Justin Herbert’s career-high four interceptions to help Houston roll to a 32-12 wild-card playoff victory.

“We’re just going out there playing like we’ve got to get the ball to win,” Stingley said.

Eric Murray returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown and C.J. Stroud threw a TD pass in Houston’s win.

Since the merger, quarterbacks are 55-551-2 when throwing four or more interceptions in the regular season and just 3-33 when doing so in the playoffs.

“I let the team down,” Herbert said. “You can’t turn over the ball like that and expect to win. I put the team in a tough position there with four turnovers like that.”

It’s the second straight year Stroud and the Texans (11-7) won in the first round after they beat Cleveland last season.

“It hasn’t always been easy this year,” Stroud said. “But this is just another thing that we can use to motivate us even more.”

Herbert threw just three interceptions in the regular season and had never thrown more than two in a game before facing a Texans secondary led by Stingley. Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the other pick.

The Texans made Herbert uncomfortable in the pocket all day, sacking him four times and hitting him another nine.

“Our defense, they dominated today,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “And that’s who we want to be. They played our brand of football.”

The Chargers (11-7), who returned to the playoffs under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, lost in the wild-card round for a second straight time after also losing in the 2022 season to remain without a postseason win since 2018.

Harbaugh, who won a national championship with Michigan in Houston last January, took the blame for the loss.

“They were the better team today,” he said. “All respect to them. Not being the better team today, I’m accountable for that. That’s on me.”

Stroud threw for 282 yards with the touchdown pass to Nico Collins and an interception.

Collins finished with seven catches for 122 yards to set a franchise playoff record. Joe Mixon ran for 106 yards and a score. D’Angelo Ross returned a blocked extra point for 2 points for Houston in the fourth.

Herbert was 14 of 32 for 242 yards with a 40.9 passer rating.